The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-07-09
Night in a Gypsy Camp.


Edgar L. Wakeman gives, in the st
Louis Globe Democrat, the following de
scription of night as it is spent in gypsy
camp:
GAS gypsy camp has no load of hate
or greed, or strife for social place, or un.
holy pleasures, as in your world, to scourgC
his moments which God and nature give
to rest, the evening time is ever pleasant
part of his daily experience, for he has
CHEEKY sound and sense, his friends, his
family, his horses and dogs, with love and
content about him. This camp by evening,
and indeed all evening gypsy camps where
there is a goodly number of these tawny
people in one band, is weird and romantic,
and yet strangely snug and heart-holding to
the sense. In the open air, as we are,
there is still sense of being shut in and
protected by the very dark around and
about. Here are dozen tent fires, and
one great roaring fire around which we all
gather at will All these make good
deal of light. Then against the trunks of
some great elms are fastened several faring
cressets. Looking above or about, the eye
meets an almost palpahle blaekness which,
while shutting out the very stars, seems to
panoply the spot, while the rich new 70
liage of the branches are set in the ebon
folds like wondrous Torture of pale green.
"Here are groups at cards; there old
tales are being retold with some great -four
ishes and variations by the story-teller of
the band; over here are number of mid
dle-aged men lying oaFelessly about fire,
smoking and leisuFely discussing the NOR
rows affairs; meddlesome old spae- wives
are everywhere descending like grim pro-
priety upon merriment and cheer, but eve
rywhere tolerated with winsome respect
and good humor; old men and dogs are
constantly sallying out among the stock
and to environs Of the camp; sturdy women
are humming old tunes while making things
snug about the tents for the night; here
and there is genuine love-making by gypsy
swain to gypsy lass, but always under the
eye of the mother of one or the other
which custom is almost savagely observed
among gypsies-for a gypsy maiden is
all about are little collections of lads at
various mischieVous devices, for gypsy
children are precisely like your children;
while over here by the big fire, we who
can dance, or care to, have bribed freckled-
faced Joe,' the tinker, to tremendous work
upon his greasy violin, and are pounding
away upon the tender green sward with
such genuine vigor as you never saw equal
ed in your whole civilized life. Then the
fires are banked for the night, and We go
to our separate tents-it has always been
my good luck to sleep with the tinker,
with several dogs and a mules nimble heels
fpE guardian angels-and you would first
know the royal good in sleep if you could
get as close as we to the true breast of
mother earth, with but a few sheaves of
sweet straw orsome aromatic cedar branches
and travel-worn blanket between
The main dependence of American gyp-
sizes is upon horse trading and dealing.
Every gypsy man, woman and child is a
master Of horse lore and horse care and
horsemanship. A lad st twelve, or lass of
fifteen, is trader, jockey and veteri-
marian. A large number of animals be-
sides those in actual use always accompany
the band. These are traded, sold or their
number added to at a moments notice, OF
the keenueSs, cunning and wonderful pro-
fciencY of this race in horse care, trading
and dealing, | could relate innumerable in
cidents. Nearly all the draft horses used
in our large cities are gathered together by
gypsies from farmers in straits for money,
cared for little time, got into excellent
form and training, and then sent to the
city dealers, who, supposed to belong to
other races, are gypsies themselves, Not
only is the famous IattersaH of London,
who furnishes nearly all the nobility of
England with thoroughbred studs, gypsy,
but three Of the largest horse markets in
this country, in Boston, New York and
Washington, are owned and conducted by
gypsies, while in the smaller cities of the
country these patient, quiet people are
gradually securing property with livery and
sales stables attached, to which the thous-
ands upon thousands of animals secured
during the 0ummer wanderings are shipped,
Every one of these animals is purchased
for the lowest and sold at the highest pos
sible price, The gypsy is welcomed by
the farmer, for the farmer always needs
and the gypsy always has money, while the
city is becoming more and more used to
relying on gypsy selected animals For,
while in a jockeying tourney the gypsy will
perform some marvellous swindles, in legiti-
mate purchases and sales his word and
guarantee are sacred and inviolable,